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  • Parallel Worlds

  • A Journey Through Creation, Higher Dimensions, and the Future of the Cosmos
  • By: Michio Kaku
  • Narrated by: Marc Vietor
  • Length: 14 hrs and 50 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (217 ratings)

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Parallel Worlds

By: Michio Kaku
Narrated by: Marc Vietor
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Summary

Is our universe dying?

Could there be other universes?

In Parallel Worlds, world-renowned physicist and best-selling author Michio Kaku - an author who "has a knack for bringing the most ethereal ideas down to earth" (Wall Street Journal) - takes listeners on a fascinating tour of cosmology, M-theory, and its implications for the fate of the universe.

In his first book of physics since Hyperspace, Michio Kaku begins by describing the extraordinary advances that have transformed cosmology over the last century and particularly over the last decade, forcing scientists around the world to rethink our understanding of the birth of the universe and its ultimate fate. In Dr. Kaku's eyes, we are living in a golden age of physics, as new discoveries from the WMAP and COBE satellites and the Hubble space telescope have given us unprecedented pictures of our universe in its infancy.

As astronomers wade through the avalanche of data from the WMAP satellite, a new cosmological picture is emerging. So far the leading theory about the birth of the universe is the "inflationary universe theory", a major refinement on the big bang theory. In this theory our universe may be but one in a multiverse, floating like a bubble in an infinite sea of bubble universes, with new universes being created all the time. A parallel universe may well hover a mere millimeter from our own.

The very idea of parallel universes and the string theory that can explain their existence was once viewed with suspicion by scientists, seen as the province of mystics, charlatans, and cranks. But today physicists overwhelmingly support string theory and its latest iteration, M-theory, as it is this one theory that, if proven correct, would reconcile the four forces of the universe simply and elegantly and answer the question "what happened before the big bang?"

Already, Kaku explains, the world's foremost physicists and astronomers are searching for ways to test the theory of the multiverse using highly sophisticated wave detectors, gravity lenses, satellites, and telescopes. The implications of M-theory are fascinating and endless. If parallel worlds do exist, Kaku speculates, in time - perhaps a trillion years or more from now, as appears likely - when our universe grows cold and dark in what scientists describe as a big freeze, advanced civilizations may well find a way to escape our universe in a kind of "interdimensional lifeboat".

An unforgettable journey into black holes and time machines, alternate universes, and multidimensional space, Parallel Worlds gives us a compelling portrait of the revolution sweeping the world of cosmology.

©2006 Michio Kaku (P)2016 Random House Audio
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Critic reviews

"In Parallel Worlds, Michio Kaku brings his formidable explanatory talents to bear on one of the strangest and most exciting possibilities to have emerged from modern physics: that our universe may be but one among many, perhaps infinitely many, arrayed in a vast cosmic network. With deft use of analogy and humor, Kaku patiently introduces the reader to variations on this theme of parallel universes, coming from quantum mechanics, cosmology, and most recently, M-theory. Read this book for a wonderful tour, with an expert guide, of a cosmos whose comprehension forces us to stretch to the very limits of imagination." (Brian Greene, Professor of Theoretical Particle Physics, Columbia University, and author of The Fabric of the Cosmos and The Elegant Universe)
"Those who might enjoy a tour of cosmology, time travel, string theory, and the universe in 10 or 11 dimensions will find no better guide than Michio Kaku, a rare individual who has undertaken research in these subject areas yet also knows well how to present this intriguing, complex material in an engaging and easily assimilable style." (Donald Goldsmith, author of The Runaway Universe and Connecting with the Cosmos)
"A highly readable and exhilarating romp through the frontiers of cosmology." (Martin Rees, author of Our Cosmic Habitat and Our Final Century)

What listeners say about Parallel Worlds

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Not bad actually

Getting a little outdated now as was written pre LHC. The author certainly seemed to have more conviction towards a God and wasn’t so keen on the anthropology principle which was a shame as I don’t feel it allowed full acceptance of how meaningless but fragile our existence. Non the less a good look at M theory and the consequences

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    5 out of 5 stars

Great read just have to stick through the obvious

Great but repeats a lot of statements which is good for some but needs more in debt on subjects great book like always

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wow

This book was amazing! A must read 4 anyone with an open mind! wow! cool

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    5 out of 5 stars
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serious but funny

As easy to listen to as a bed time story Michio explores the world of Quantum Physics and humourly addresses future problems that we may face in a Billion years or so. such as how to transfer our civilisation into a parallel universe to avoid the end of our universe. A great problem to have apparently.

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More for an academic student rather than general reader

I feel a great deal of the information although helpful and is explained very well I feel is a little much for people for me who is not a student or any sort of scientist it all seemed to blend into one thing…

electrons something something electrons something something black hole something something neutron.

I found myself blanking out a lot of the time and skipping chapters as it all seemed to blend together.

Wasn’t quite what I expect as I was looking forward to more looking at alternate realities or other planet civilisations although it does but doesn’t take up a great deal of the book.

Was very interesting nevertheless and still enjoyed it and explained very well. The narrator is an easy listen

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Fantastic

Offers a great perspective and thoughts from the greatest minds and an excellent and engaging reader

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Top Class Popular Science

Brilliant overview of physics and cosmology. Advocates questionable string theory. Should provide epilogue on current advances.

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Spellbinding.

When I get to the end of this book, there are so many fantastic concepts to try and understand, that's it's possible to go back to the start and listen again, and have the same enjoyment as not having heard it before.

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Wow!

Perhaps the greatest mind today. Utterly thought provoking, educational and a must read. Closing chapter provides the reader with very sage advice.

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A book for everyone at any time

What made the experience of listening to Parallel Worlds the most enjoyable?
I love this book. I love the simplicity of complexity. I love the storytelling and the mystery. I have read this at lease 5 times and it never gets old. Amazing writing.
Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind

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